Jun 23, 2023
Jun 22, 2023
Jun 21, 2023
Seaway Traffic (ALGOMA TITAN, GAÏA DESGAGNES, RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER, ALGOMA HARVESTER, WICKY SPIRIT)
First official day of summer...
Decades ago, I'd seldom see 4AM.
Now it's just become part of my routine.
Had I been really ambitious, I probably could have made it to the water in time to see the G3 MARQUIS.
My first ship of the day happened to be one of the newest ships in the Algoma fleet...
The freshly christened ALGOMA TITAN had previously sailed the Seaway as CHANTACO until being acquired by Algoma last fall.
Definitely seems to be an abundance of tanker ships over the past few decades - I'm sure there are more tankers on the Seaway than back in the 1990s.
GAÏA DESGAGNES already has MANY Seaway transits so far in 2023.
The next ship was another familiar vessel...
RADCLIFFE R LATIMER was upbound for the Port of Bath, Ontario.
Wasn't familiar with that particular port, but it appears to be roughly halfway between Belleville and Kingston.
(just southeast of Napanee)
Noticed what appears to be a new structure on this older ship.
This section with the yellow guardrails and tanks wasn't there last season.
Was unable to capture a decent shot of the ALGOMA HARVESTER due to the intense glare from the mid-day sun around 12pm.
The two fleetmates appeared to exchange whistles upon meeting...
(vessels saluted upon meeting - Although after hearing
One long and two short - I only heard a single blast as the reply. (Although miles off in the distance, other variables could have interfered)
Four hours later, the colors were much easier to capture (around 4pm).
McKeil vessel WICKY SPIRIT downbound for Quebec City. After a brief stop in Montreal, she would return upriver on Jun 24 (3 days later) destined for Clarkson.
Before leaving, I scanned downriver...
Was hoping to catch a glimpse of KAMINISTIQUA - The last ship of the day.
If she got delayed, wouldn't see her until after nightfall.
Decades ago, I'd seldom see 4AM.
Now it's just become part of my routine.
Had I been really ambitious, I probably could have made it to the water in time to see the G3 MARQUIS.
My first ship of the day happened to be one of the newest ships in the Algoma fleet...
The freshly christened ALGOMA TITAN had previously sailed the Seaway as CHANTACO until being acquired by Algoma last fall.
 |
| ALGOMA TITAN, downbound for Tracy, Quebec. She would return upriver on June 24 (3 days later) |
 |
| She's earned her stripes - But her stack still awaits a big red circle with Algoma's Bear emblem. |
Next ship was another tanker, GAÏA DESGAGNES.
Became familiar with this vessel towards the end of last season, when I caught her three times in as many weeks.
 |
| The 2018-built GAIA DESGAGNES |
Definitely seems to be an abundance of tanker ships over the past few decades - I'm sure there are more tankers on the Seaway than back in the 1990s.
GAÏA DESGAGNES already has MANY Seaway transits so far in 2023.
 |
| My favorite feature of this ship is of course unusual bow design... |
 |
| Magical waves crash into the shore. |
The next ship was another familiar vessel...
RADCLIFFE R LATIMER was upbound for the Port of Bath, Ontario.
Wasn't familiar with that particular port, but it appears to be roughly halfway between Belleville and Kingston.
(just southeast of Napanee)
 |
| RADCLIFFE R LATIMER with GAÏA desgagnes in the distant background. |
Noticed what appears to be a new structure on this older ship.
This section with the yellow guardrails and tanks wasn't there last season.
Another look at the "box" that's been constructed
LATIMER had been downbound on the Seaway for Port Daniel on June 11.
She then traveled to Cote Ste Catherine, Quebec.
Departing Cote Ste Catherine on June 21 at approximately 2.30AM, here she is just 9 hours later.
Was unable to capture a decent shot of the ALGOMA HARVESTER due to the intense glare from the mid-day sun around 12pm.
The two fleetmates appeared to exchange whistles upon meeting...
(vessels saluted upon meeting - Although after hearing
One long and two short - I only heard a single blast as the reply. (Although miles off in the distance, other variables could have interfered)
 |
| ALGOMA HARVESTER downbound for Port Cartier, Quebec. |
 |
| A sudden big puff of smoke above the trees when the LATIMER was out of sight... May she have been powering up after slowing down to allow the next vessel to clear the lock? |
Four hours later, the colors were much easier to capture (around 4pm).
McKeil vessel WICKY SPIRIT downbound for Quebec City. After a brief stop in Montreal, she would return upriver on Jun 24 (3 days later) destined for Clarkson.
 |
| WICKY SPIRIT in vivid color |
Before leaving, I scanned downriver...
Was hoping to catch a glimpse of KAMINISTIQUA - The last ship of the day.
If she got delayed, wouldn't see her until after nightfall.
Jun 20, 2023
Seaway Traffic (BBC WASHINGTON, THUNDER BAY, AUJAQ)
My first ship of the day...
BBC WASHINGTON
BBC WASHINGTON has had a slew of names during her career...
BELUGA EFFICIENCY, BBC CAROLINA, FREESE SCAN.
Previously sailed as BBC WASHINGTON from 2012-2014.
She spent nearly a decade as LISANNA, before having her previous name of BBC WASHINGTON restored
THUNDER BAY
Just happened to look downriver just in time to see the upbound Canada Steamship Lines vessel THUNDER BAY emerge from behind an island.
Missed the opportunity to catch her sister ship, BAIE ST PAUL last week...
(The 2012-built BAIE ST PAUL is the oldest member of the Trillium Class - And the only one that I don't have a photo of.)
BBC WASHINGTON
 |
| 2004-built BBC WASHINGTON |
 |
| Destined for Oswego, she would arrive there on June 21 (a day later). |
BBC WASHINGTON has had a slew of names during her career...
BELUGA EFFICIENCY, BBC CAROLINA, FREESE SCAN.
Previously sailed as BBC WASHINGTON from 2012-2014.
She spent nearly a decade as LISANNA, before having her previous name of BBC WASHINGTON restored
THUNDER BAY
Just happened to look downriver just in time to see the upbound Canada Steamship Lines vessel THUNDER BAY emerge from behind an island.
 |
| The 2013-built THUNDER BAY, ultimately headed for Thunder Bay, Ontario. |
 |
| THUNDER BAY upbound |
Missed the opportunity to catch her sister ship, BAIE ST PAUL last week...
(The 2012-built BAIE ST PAUL is the oldest member of the Trillium Class - And the only one that I don't have a photo of.)
 |
| THUNDER BAY sails upriver |
As she headed up river, CSL's THUNDER BAY issued a few rounds of danger warnings - Five short blasts of the whistle. Couldn't see what she was reacting to, but there appeared to be fishing boats in the general area.
AUJAQ
 |
| 1994-built AUJAQ downbound for Montreal, Quebec. (she was upbound for Oswego, New York on June 4) |
At 29 years of age, she's relatively old - As far as salt water vessels are concerned...
Struck me as odd that she didn't have the usual "splietoff" painted on the hull... 
She became AUJAQ in 2019, her previous name being EGMONDGRACHT.
Still has "AMSTERDAM" painted on the stern, however...
 |
| AUJAQ |
Of note, the vessel is technically sailing under the Canadian Flag - Unlike the Splietoff vessels with the "GRACHT" suffix, registered to the Netherlands.
(Similar Canadian-Flagged ships include the 1994-built SINAA [formerly EGELANTIERSGRACHT] and 1995-built MITIQ [formerly EMMAGRACHT])
Other Seaway Vessel Transits:
Appears that I missed SEDNA DESGAGNES and CANADIAN EMPRESS, both downbound in the evening.
Meanwhile, ATLANTIC SPIRIT was upbound for Mississauga, Ontario.
(Similar Canadian-Flagged ships include the 1994-built SINAA [formerly EGELANTIERSGRACHT] and 1995-built MITIQ [formerly EMMAGRACHT])
Other Seaway Vessel Transits:
Appears that I missed SEDNA DESGAGNES and CANADIAN EMPRESS, both downbound in the evening.
Meanwhile, ATLANTIC SPIRIT was upbound for Mississauga, Ontario.
Jun 9, 2023
TAÏGA DESGAGNES
Without even looking at the lock times, just happened to spot an upbound vessel through the trees...
Was able to jump ahead to the next town, do errands and then head down to the river to catch the ship.
TAÏGA DESGAGNES
My first Seaway vessel of the year.
As a bonus, it's one I'd previously never seen.
It may also be the first time I've ever seen a Desgagnes vessel with deck cranes - Didn't realize there were NINE crane ships in the fleet.
.
The vessel previously sailed as BBC AMAZON. She became TAIGA DESGAGNES in 2017.
The vessel is also equipped for container transport.
Each one of her deck cranes can lift 80 metric tons.
Elsewhere, further up the river (at Johnstown) the 1968-built FRONTENAC arrived just before midnight to unload cargo.
A frequent visitor to The Port of Prescott, the vessel seldom travels further downriver than that.
The FRONTY finished unloading her cargo in less than 8 hours, heading back upriver destined for Port Weller.
Was able to jump ahead to the next town, do errands and then head down to the river to catch the ship.
 |
| 2007-built TAÏGA DESGAGNES |
TAÏGA DESGAGNES
My first Seaway vessel of the year.
As a bonus, it's one I'd previously never seen.
It may also be the first time I've ever seen a Desgagnes vessel with deck cranes - Didn't realize there were NINE crane ships in the fleet.
.
The vessel previously sailed as BBC AMAZON. She became TAIGA DESGAGNES in 2017.
 |
| TAIGA DESGAGNES upbound with wind turbine blades destined for Thunder Bay, Ontario. |
The vessel is also equipped for container transport.
Each one of her deck cranes can lift 80 metric tons.
Elsewhere, further up the river (at Johnstown) the 1968-built FRONTENAC arrived just before midnight to unload cargo.
A frequent visitor to The Port of Prescott, the vessel seldom travels further downriver than that.
The FRONTY finished unloading her cargo in less than 8 hours, heading back upriver destined for Port Weller.
 |
| Wild "flowers" by the river in full bloom. |
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